The Beagle Put His Nose Right Up to the First Duckling in Line
The Beagle's nose is working overtime. A red-and-white Beagle with long, soft ears leans in toward the first duckling in a line, with his nose almost touching its little yellow beak, while the rest of the ducklings wait in a row behind. A backpack, a basket and a plant are scattered across the sunny floor of the room behind them.
Beagles are friendly, curious dogs with an extraordinary sense of smell. They were bred to follow scent trails, so they love to sniff everything. They are good-natured and social, but they can be stubborn and may follow a smell right out of the yard, so a leash and a fenced yard are a good idea. They also need regular exercise and a watchful eye on their weight.
A gentle nose touch is a polite way for a dog to meet a new friend, but it is important to keep an eye on the interaction. Ducklings are delicate and a quick snap or bounce could hurt them, so a calm, trained dog is necessary. Ducklings also need warmth, clean water and the right food, and your vet can offer advice.
Everyone is being very polite, and nobody is in a hurry. It is a quiet and careful hello between a hound and a duckling. Hounds and ducklings have a lot to learn from each other, and today's lesson is in being gentle. A little curiosity goes a long way.
